Her eyes shimmered with unshed emotion. “I’ve wanted to hit him for years.And when I finally did… it felt right. Like it was earned.”
Dominic chuckled under his breath. “It most certainly was, but I wish I had the opportunity to hit him as well. Heaven knows I wanted to.”
“I know, and if Matthew ever comes around again, I give you leave to,” she said. “Now, shall we return to finish our breakfast?”
No.
Everything in him screamed against the suggestion. He didn’t want breakfast. He didn’t want the dull clatter of cutlery or the polite hum of conversation. He wantedthis—the quiet intimacy of the study, the warmth of her cheek beneath his palm, the way her eyes looked up at him like he was someone worthy of trust… oflove.
He wanted to stay here and never let her go. He wanted to kiss her. To tell her that she was everything he had never dared to hope for—that somehow, despite all the darkness in him, she had become the light he gravitated towards.
But he wasn’t strong enough.
Not yet.
Not with everything still unraveling inside him.
So, instead of leaning in, instead of speaking the words that trembled on the tip of his tongue, Dominic did the one thing that felt safe.
He let his hand fall from her cheek.
“Come,” he said, offering her his arm without meeting her gaze. “Let’s finish our meal.”
A gentle breeze stirred the hem of Dorothea’s skirts as she stood at the edge of the gardens, shading her eyes against thelight. Overhead, a vibrant red kite danced and dipped in the wind. Tristan stood a few paces ahead, beaming with pride as he held the string taut, his shoulders squared with youthful confidence.
“Do you want to fly my kite?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder, the excitement in his voice unmistakable.
Dorothea smiled warmly. “No, thank you. I think you’re doing a splendid job all on your own.”
Just then, the back door opened and Tabitha emerged, brushing her hands down the front of her apron as she made her way across the gardens. “You don’t need to entertain Tristan, my lady.”
Dorothea turned to her. “I don’t mind in the least. It’s a beautiful day to be outside, and Tristan’s joy is rather contagious.”
Tabitha followed her gaze to the boy and nodded, a wistful expression softening her features. “I wish my husband could see him. He would’ve adored flying a kite with his son.”
Dorothea’s heart ached at the sorrow beneath her words. “I’m sorry he isn’t here,” she murmured.
Tabitha gave a faint, resigned sigh. “He was thrilled when he was selected for the rocket troop. His letters were full of pride. He believed he was doing something important.”
“May I ask…” Dorothea hesitated. “How long ago did he pass?”
“A little over six months now,” Tabitha replied, her voice quiet. “He died helping the Coalition forces on the Continent.”
Dorothea’s brows lifted. “What troop was he with?”
“The Second Rocket Troop,” Tabitha said. “He always spoke of it with such honor. Said it was a small unit of men, but fiercely brave.”
Dorothea blinked, her heart suddenly thudding. “That’s the same troop Dominic served in. What was your husband’s name?”
“John Cooper.”
Dorothea’s breath caught. She turned to face the woman fully, astonishment plain in her voice. “That’s him. That’s the man Dominic told me about—the one who saved his life.”
Tabitha’s brows drew together. “Are you certain?”
“I’m quite certain,” Dorothea said. “He carried Dominic from the battlefield when he was wounded. Your husband made sure he survived. Dominic never forgot him.”
She turned urgently, waving a hand. “Come, we must find him at once. He’ll want to know.”
